Pages

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The commute starts here...

...sort of

Catching a lift @ MHC

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Umm, no Officer.....

As Relayed from DaMom....

The following event took place at 8:40am, on April 27th 2010:
As DaMom was trying to get the kids to the car so DaGirl may go to school, a police car pulls down the driveway. And he pulls all the way down the driveway, not just a little bit to turn around. DaKids were standing on the deck dumbstruck by the sight of a cruiser so close.
Police Officer: Did you place a 911 call?
DaMom: um no?
PO: Were either of them playing with a phone?
DaMom: He was (pointing at DaBoy), I just hung it up.
PO: *stern look*
DaMom: He's not even 2 yet, he doesn't understand the phone.

Great now were going to be on the SHPD's most watched list....

Will our kids ever be easy?
g

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pneumatic Gods: 3 , DaGoof: 0

Last night's ride home wasn't so much fun. Technically, it wasn't even a ride. I left the building, walked over to the bike and didn't notice anything wrong. I attached my bag to the bike and pulled the bike off the rack. Still nothing seems strange until I mount it and the bike sinks. Huh? I get off the bike and sure enough it's flat as a pancake. The tires are stiff enough that it held the bike up.


I go inside and use the air compressor to pump the tire up to see how bad the leak is. The tubes are already filled with slime and I figure a little air and the problem may resolve itself. Not so much. In less than 15 seconds all the air I put in comes out. The tire shows no massive holes but there is obviously a hole in the tube. OK, time to dismount the tire. When I separate the tube from the tire a leg of a massive staple falls out.
Note the staple on the right

"Wow that's a big chunk of ugly" I think to myself.

Pneumatic Gods: 1 , DaGoof: 0

Next I try to patch the hole. Um, yeah, that doesn't work, the patch won't stick to the slime covered tube (since it all leaked out the monstrous hole).

Pneumatic Gods: 2 , DaGoof: 0

"OK no biggie I'll just put the spare tube in." *sigh* It has an even bigger hole in it. "I give up! Sandy, can I get a ride home with you?".......

Pneumatic Gods: 3 , DaGoof: 0


When I get home I discover that I must have been riding it this way for at least a little bit as evidenced by the spray under the rack
Boy does that need to be cleaned.....
g

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

3 year old H-bomb

On Sunday night DaGirl got a "new" house.

Yesterday DaGirl was outside in her "new" playhouse at 6:45am.
She played in the yard all morning.
Then they went to the park for two hours.
After lunch she refused to nap.

When I got home the fuse had long been set.

She was standing near the playhouse and DaMom left to get something for dinner. DaGirl saw the car moving and the cork popped.
She screamed "I WANNA GO WITH MOMMY!"
She punched the playhouse screaming "I WANNA GO WITH MOMMY!"
She flicked her hand in pain screaming "OUUUCH, I WANNA GO WITH MOMMY!"
I was in the driveway and moved toward her, staying on the other side of the fence, telling her pitching a fit isn't going to get her anywhere. Then I witness her little eyes fill with tears, her head (not just face) turn bright red, and guttural screams build from who knows where.

DaBoy was stood in the driveway, confused by the whole matter. It's not like he hasn't thrown a tantrum or two lately, but she came totally unhinged. I took them both inside and cleaned them up for dinner.

20 minutes later she's still going strong when DaMom pulls down the driveway. DaGirl plops down in her seat at the table and stops crying immediately. By the time DaMom enters she's fine and appears nothing was ever wrong.

I found the incident humorous and disturbing at the same time. It's funny since I knew she was overtired but she's obviously got some of the anger management issues I used to have.

g

Food Revolution

We don't have cable.
Too much $.

We don't have a dish.
Too much hassle.

We get our TV the old fashioned way, we Netflix it!
...or for up-to-date stuff it comes through the airwaves, Yes people still do that!

The only thing I miss is not being able to see the Sox games. However, the benefit to having only a few channels is that the kids don't watch much TV and sometimes when you want to veg out and your Netflix queue is in transit, you are held to the mercy of the programming of the over the air channels.

So we were watching TV a couple of Sundays back and advertisements for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution came on. We were both horrified and riveted by the subject. Over the last 10 years of our marriage we have made great strides in eating healthier and reducing the overall quantity we consume. So naturally what appeared to be such a reality TV train wreck had to be watched.

The footage has definitely been edited to increase the "drama" that TV execs think create ratings but overall I think it is truthful. I can see some of the people I know fitting right into the mindset of the town he has descended upon. I live/work in a area that has a large number of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm share programs, farm stands, and farmers markets. The people I'm thinking of regard all of these fresh food advocates as nutcases.

The first two episodes focus on the negatives. Things like; what the people don't know, how much junk food they eat, and how it will all kill them. I'm sure the way it is presented is mainly because it has to survive and gain viewers, but it does make one think. In fact, I wondered aloud to DaMom what our elementary school lunch menu looked like. DaGirl is in her first year of morning preschool there and doesn't eat lunch there.  DaMom found a menu and brought it home:

School Lunch - April 2010
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
        Apr 1
1
ASSORTED SANDWICHES
TOMATO SOUP
CHILLED FRUIT
OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES
Apr 2
2
GOOD FRIDAY
NO SCHOOL
Apr 3

Apr 4

Apr 5
5
CHICKEN PATTIE SANDWICH
SHREDDED LETTUCE
RICE PILAF
MIXED FRUIT
Apr 6
6
STEAMED HOT DOGS
RED. FAT “CAPE COD” CHIPS
FRESH VEGGIES
BLUEBERRIES W/ TOPPING
Apr 7
7
PIZZA POCKETS
HERBED NOODLES
GREEN BEANS
CINNAMON APPLESAUCE
Apr 8
8
WHOLE GRAIN SPAGHETTI W/ MEAT SAUCE
STEAMED PEAS
BREAD & BUTTER
SLICED PEACHES
Apr 9
9
ASSORTED SANDWICHES
TURKEY NOODLE SOUP
CHILLED FRUIT
OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES
Apr 10

Apr 11

Apr 12
12
BUILD YOU OWN BURGERS
POTATO PUFFS
SHREDDED LETTUCE
SLICED PEARS
Apr 13
13
POP CORN CHICKEN
MASHED POTATOES
CORN NIBBLETS
STRAWBERRY CUPS
Apr 14
14
STEAMED HOT DOGS
BAKED BEANS
“ROLD GOLD” PRETZELS
CHILLED FRUIT
Apr 15
15
½ DAY
PARENT
CONFERENCES
Apr 16
16
½ DAY
PARENT
CONFERENCES
Apr 17

Apr 18

Apr 19
SPRING
RECESS
Apr 20
SPRING
RECESS
Apr 21
SPRING
RECESS
Apr 22
SPRING
RECESS
Apr 23
SPRING
RECESS
Apr 24

Apr 25

Apr 26
26
GILARDI’S “WHOLE GRAIN” DOUBLE STUFF CRUST PIZZA
TOSSED SALAD
CHILLED FRUIT
Apr 27
27
SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES
FRENCH FRIES
CORN NIBBLETS
PEAR HALVES
Apr 28
28
FRENCH TOAST STICKS W/ SYRUP
OVEN BAKED SAUSAGE
ORANGE JUICE
DICED PEACHES
Apr 29
29
TURKEY FRICASSE
MASHED POTATOES
STEAMED VEGGIES
DINNER ROLL
CINNAMON APPLE SLICES
Apr 30
30
ASSORTED SANDWICHES
MINESTRONE SOUP
CHILLED FRUIT
OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIES
 

We were stunned by it. It's nearly as bad what's on the show!
I've seen the "kitchen" there. None of this stuff can be prepared fresh there, it all has to be prepackaged. There is one household sized stove and some warmers on a line.

And there in lies the problem; preserved, prepackaged, foods designed to meet bizarre guidelines established by a nationwide program. How can a french fry be considered a vegetable? 

There is an obvious problem here.




http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition

http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

"You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result."'--Mahatma Gandhi

g